(The  Institute  is  not  responsible  for  statements  of  facts  or 

opinions  expressed  in  advance  papers.     This  paper  is 

subject  to  revision  by  the  Board  of  Directors.) 

(Copyright,  1916,  by  American  Gas  Institute.) 
f.f 

REPORT  OF  THE  COMMITTEE  ON  STANDARD 

TESTS. 


WRITTEN  FOR  THE  ELEVENTH  ANNUAL  MEETING  OF  THE  AMER- 
ICAN GAS  INSTITUTE,  OCTOBER,  1916,  BY  DR.  J.  F.  WING, 
CHAIRMAN. 


It  has  been  the  task  of  this  Committee  to  comply  with  an 
insistent  demand  for  comparable  or  uniform  methods  of  stat- 
ing the  results  of  testing  or,  more  broadly,  the  results  of  oper- 
ating a  manufacturing  unit  or  plant.  The  object  of  this 
standardization  is  to  facilitate  the  study  of  the  efficiency  of 
materials,  apparatus  and  methods  by  comparing  the  results 
obtained  at  different  times  and  places.  This  object  is  most 
nearly  attained  when  the  operation  and  results  are  reported  in 
a  comparable  manner. 

,  The  task  which  the  Technical  Committee  set  for  us,  would 
not  be  very  hard  for  anybody  to  do  to  his  own  satisfaction. 
All  gas  companies  have  their  own  forms  and  methods,  more 
or  less  complete,  and  it  is  this  very  diversity  and  independence 
which  creates  the  demand  for  standardization  in  reporting 
those  data  which  are  of  interest,  and  profitable  to  compare. 
This  diversity  of  practice  makes  the  committee  diffident  in  ex- 
pecting its  recommendations  will  be  wholly  acceptable  to  all. 

The  field  covered  by  this  report  is  already  large,  too  large 
perhaps,  and  still  other  details  might  be  included.  Since  it 
contains  the  views  of  so  small  a  number  and  the  subject  is  so 
important,  it  is  offered  to  the  Institute  this  year  as  a  prelimi- 
nary report  for  criticism  and  for  instructions. 

In  the  early  days  of  gas  associations,  and  even  in  the  earlier 
prehistoric  days,  when  two  or  three  gas  men  wrere  gathered 
together,  there  would  be  one  among  them  who  would  modestly 

432051 


•-•'••X  :•— ;  :;-• 

.     >•••?•••%.' 


mention  the  high  candle-power  he  was  getting.  Then  another, 
whose  candle-power  was  not  so  high,  would  complacently  in- 
form them  about  the  large  yield  of  gas  per  pound  of  coal, 
which  he  was  producing,  and  both  parties  were  probably  con- 
tent with  their  results. 

Now,  of  course,  if  the  physical  conditions  of  the  measure- 
ments were  ignored,  their  flattering  results  might  not  be  even 
true;  and  if  the  conditions  of  operating  were  only  casually 
noted,  it  would  be  difficult  for  another  to  divine  the  reason  for 
the  success  in  some  works  and  to  discover  the  faults  in  his 
own. 

Many  of  us  can  remember  how  ingeniously  the  expression 
"candle-feet  per  pound,"  when  he  first  heard  it,  seemed  to 
reconcile  the  relations  of  quality  and  quantity. 

Although  changes  and  improvements  were  continually  tak- 
ing place,  the  summary  "candle-feet  per  pound  of  coal"  an- 
swered very  well  as  long  as  good  coals  were  widely  available 
and  the  annual  reviews  of  the  state  of  the  art  reported  that 
"there  has  not  been  much  progress  in  carbonization,"  which 
was  not  so  very  long  ago,  and  a  production  of  80  candle-feet 
per  pound  was  satisfactory. 

This  state  of  affairs  changed  when  in  consequence  of  the 
poorer  quality  of  much  of  the  gas  coal  used,  and  the  adoption 
of  improved  designs,  it  became  realized  that  the  range  in 
candle- feet  per  pound  extended  from  70  to  100,  and  that  the 
by-products  varied  quite  widely  in  quality  and  quantity. 

We  have  in  the  manufacturing  results  in  water  gas  plants, 
also  a  wide  variation  at  different  times  and  places. 

The  art  of  gas  manufacture  has  improved  so  much,  and  the 
urgency  of  economy  is  so  great,  that  it  is  important  to  study 
these  reported  variations  in  efficiency,  and  to  note  the  condi- 
tions under  which  they  are  obtained. 

If  this  collection  and  exchange  of  information  is  to  be  most 
productive,  it  must  be  carried  out  quite  extensively  and  in  a 
uniform  manner.  This  necessity  has  given  the  impetus  for 
preparing  a  standard  scheme  for  reporting  conditions  and  re- 
sults. 


It  is  important  to  record  just  what  you  are  doing  when  you 
are  doing  well,  so  that  the  same  conditions  may  be  followed 
again.  High  results  are  due  to  close  control.  Besides,  there 
are  still  many  points  in  the  art  which  are  not  understood  and 
which  we  are  hopeful  of  elucidating.  Then  again,  when  some 
other  plant  is  doing  better  than  your  own  it  is  convenient  to 
have  a  common  basis  of  comparison,  and  not  infrequently,  to 
satisfy  yourself  that  it  is  doing  better. 

The  most  urgent  necessity  of  standardization  seems  to  have 
arisen  within  a  few  years  on  account  of  the  improvements  in 
manufacture  and  the  different  designs  of  plants.  In  order  to 
meet  changing  commercial  conditions,  and  to  supply  an  in- 
creased demand  for  gas,  most  companies  have  been  expanding 
or  rebuilding  the  plants,  or  installing  new  ones.  Some  have 
been  enterprising  enough  to  install  novel  designs  after  study- 
ing plans.  But  many  more  have  cautiously  tried  to  select  an 
installation  after  inspecting  and  comparing  the  cost  and  effi- 
ciency of  several  operating  plants  and  have  been  puzzled  over 
the  question  of  efficiency  of  production,  which  is  influential 
in  determining  a  choice,  owing  to  the  unfamiliar,  or  it  may  be, 
the  incomplete  methods  of  recording  the  materials  used  and 
the  results. 

Here  is  a  case  where  comparable  and  reliable  data  assist  in 
determining  a  considerable  investment,  and  in  confirming  the 
claims  of  competing  advocates,  whose  good  faith  is  not  ques- 
tioned. 

These  designs  may  be  all  good  in  their  own  peculiar  way, 
that  is,  superior  for  some  special  objective. 

The  usefulness  of  this  code  is  for  conducting  and  report- 
ing tests.  The  form  is  recommended  for  reporting  manufac- 
turing data.  It  is  profuse  and  even  complicated  in  detail  and 
still  might  be  extended.  But  is  is  thought  that  any  of  the  data 
called  for  might  be  desired  and  considered  of  influence.  - 

Some  of  the  observations  may  be  infrequent.  Thus  the 
data  not  easily  subject  to  change  may  be  taken  day  and  night; 
but  variable  data  should  be  observed  hourly  during  a  test. 
In  routine  manufacturing  reports  many  items  could  be  omitted, 


but  they  should  be  remembered  as  points  of  attention  for  the 
proper  management  of  the  plant. 

"Note  the  specific  object  of  the  test,  and  keep  this  in  view 
not  only  in  the  work  of  preparation  but  also  during  the  prog- 
ress of  the  test,  and  do  not  let  it  be  obscured  by  too  close 
attention  to  matters  of  minor  importance.  Whatever  the  ob- 
ject of  the  test  may  be,  accuracy  and  reliability  must  underlie 
the  work  from  beginning  to  end. 

"If  questions  of  fulfillment  of  contract  are  involved,  there 
should  be  a  clear  understanding  between  all  the  parties  prefer- 
ably in  writing  as  to  the  operating  conditions,  wrhich  should 
obtain  during  the  trial,  and  as  to  the  methods  of  testing  to  be 
followed  .unless  these  are  already  expressed  in  the  contract 
itself." 

The  purpose  of  a  test  of  a  plant  or  a  unit  may  be  to  deter- 
mine the  efficiency  of  the  apparatus  itself  while  using  familiar 
materials,  the  materials  in  a  familiar  apparatus,  or  a  varia- 
tion of  the  method  of  operating. 

Now  any  one  change  in  the  materials  or  method  of  operating 
involves  a  long  chain  of  changes  in  the  conditions,  which  might 
be  illustrated  in  several  ways.  Therefore,  in  order  to  obtain 
any  valuable  and  tangible  information  many  data  of  conditions 
must  be  taken,  since  it  is  difficult  to  ascribe  the  proper  cause 
to  an  effect. 

The  scheme  does  not  provide  for  reporting  costs  of  labor 
or  repairs.  These  are  details  of  management.  They  would  be 
apt  to  be  high  anyway  in  a  test  run  for  large  results. 

The  test  must  be  preceded  by  a  thorough  examination  of  the 
plant  or  apparatus  concerned,  in  order  to  be  certain  that  it  is 
in  good  order  and  that  all  defects  may  be  remedied,  thus 
avoiding  interruptions  and  the  opportunity  for  deceiving  re- 
sults in  a  test  for  efficiency. 

Leaks  in  apparatus,  connections,  piping  and  especially 
valves  must  be  corrected,  obstructions  in  flues  and  connections 
sought  and  removed.  All  seals  and  drips  must  be  put  in  work- 
ing order.  All  mechanical  apparatus  must  be  inspected  and 
put  in  order. 


The  person  in  charge  of  the  test  should  have  the  aid  of  a 
sufficient  number  of  assistants  so  that  he  may  be  free  to  give 
special  attention  to  any  part  of  the  work  whenever  and  where- 
ever  it  may  be  required.  He  should  make  sure  that  the  instru- 
ments and  testing  apparatus  continually  give  reliable  indica- 
tions and  that  the  readings  are  correctly  recorded.  He  should 
also  keep  in  view  at  all  points,  the  operation  of  the  plant  under 
test  and  see  that  the  operating  conditions  determined  on  are 
maintained  and  that  nothing  occurs  either  by  accident  or  de- 
sign to  vitiate  the  data.  This  last  precaution  is  especially 
needed  in  guarantee  tests. 

A  memorandum  should  be  made  of  every  unusual  condition 
and  occurrence  with  the  exact  time.  All  observations  must  be 
recorded  promptly  and  faithfully  in  a  permanent  manner  with 
the  time  noted  on  the  log  sheet,  signed  by  the  observer. 

In  the  chemical  tests  of  materials  and  products,  as  well  as 
those  made  for  the  control  of  operations,  it  is  recommended 
that  the  methods  of  sampling  and  analysis  proposed  by  the 
Committee  on  Chemical  Tests  of  the  American  Gas  Institute 
be  followed. 

In  the  observation  of  the  data  of  the  physical  tests  made  on 
the  operation  or  on  the  products,  it  is  important  that  all  the 
standards  and  measuring  apparatus  should  be  known  to  be 
accurate,  within  narrow  limits.  It  may  seem  perfunctory  to 
utter  this  caution,  but  often  too  much  confidence  is  placed  in 
the  condition  and  accuracy  of  apparatus.  Many  different  in- 
struments have  to  be  used  to  take  all  the  observations  sched- 
uled, some  are  liable  to  error  for  more  than  one  cause,  and 
not  the  less  if  they  are  used  infrequently,  so  that  it  is  not  im-1 
possible  that  a  critical  examination  will  expose  somethin^ 
This  applies  to  everything  from  the  platform  scales  to  the 
calorimeter. 

The  result  of  the  test  of  a  plant  is  the  sum  of  many  factors. 
If  some  of  the  factors  are  incorrect,  one  may  wonder  for  24 
hours,  at  the  results  of  a  24-hour  test. 

The  length  of  time  to  be  taken'  for  a  manufacturing  test 
must  be  determined  by  the  discretion  and  convenience  of  those 


interested.  One  week  would  appear  to  be  the  shortest  dura- 
tion which  would  give  satisfactory  and  valuable  information. 
If  this  short  period  is  the  limit  great  care  must  be  taken  to 
avoid  unusual  conditions,  in  order  to  prevent  self  deception, 
which  is  not  so  probable  in  a  longer  test. 

It  must  not  be  understood  that  one  week  is  sufficient  dura- 
tion for  a  serious  test  of  a  carbonizing  plant.  But  such  a 
period  will  give  information  concerning  a  variation  in  the 
method  of  operating  a  water  gas  plant,  and  also  concerning  a 
variation  in  the  generator  fuel,  and  in  coal  used  in  carbonizing 
apparatus,  when  the  manufacturing  conditions  are  unchanged. 

A  carbonizing  plant  responds  more  slowly  than  the  other  to 
changed  conditions  of  operating 'on  account  of  the  large  mass 
of  heated  material,  therefore  it  requires  much  longer  to  evolve 
the  best  conditions  for  operating  the  fires  and  to  determine 
the  best  conditions  for  carbonizing  the  coal. 

A  further  reason  for  extending  the  test  of  a  carbonizing 
plant  over  a  long  period  is  that  large  quantities  of  coal  are 
used  daily  from  the  storage,  and  there  is  much  probability  that 
the  coal  will  not  be  uniform  in  its  condition  and  even  not  be 
from  the  same  source  or  shipment  all  the  time.  Hence  too 
short  a  period  of  test  may  be  misleading. 

If  the  object  of  a  guarantee  test  is  to  produce  a  large  vol- 
ume, a  period  of  one  week  is  too  short,  since  it  is  possible  to 
run  that  length  of  time  at  an  abnormal  and  imprudent  inten- 
sity, which  could  not  be  continued  without  danger  of  injuring 
the  setting.  Permanency  and  reliability  are  important  to  be 
proven. 

A  carbonizing  test  should  extend  a  month  or  longer.  In  a 
new  plant  if  it  is  to  be  a  guarantee  test,  it  should  not  be  under- 
taken before  the  plant  has  run  long  enough  to  be  in  normal 
operation.  Formerly  when  the  retorts  were  all  horizontal  and 
rather  lightly  charged,  a  month  would  include  the  scurfing  or 
burning  out  time,  nowadays  it  would  hardly  occur  so  often. 
A  month  is  about  the  shortest  period  for  which  the  residuals 
tar  and  ammonia  can  be  determined  satisfactorily.  Also,  in 


case  a  residue  of  coal  must  be  measured,  there  is  less  per  cent. 
of  error  after  a  long  period. 

A  water  gas  plant  should  be  tested  for  one  week  or  longer. 
In  this  case  the  efficiency  may  be  determined  more  quickly, 
but  the  workmanship  and  reliability  must  also  be  assured. 

It  is  not  necessary  to  expand  this  report  by  including  in  it 
directions  for  testing  the  quantity  and  quality  of  the  gas. 
Authoritative  and  minute  directions  for  testing  station  meters 
are  accessible  to  the  Institute  members  in  the  Gas  Institute 
News  for  December,  1915,  p.  528. 

Directions  for  candle-power  observations  are  given  in  the 
valuable  report  of  the  Committee  on  Methods  of  Taking 
Candle-power  of  Gas,  published  in  the  PROCEEDINGS  of  the 
American  Gas  Institute  for  1907,  and  in  a  supplementary  re- 
port in  the  PROCEEDINGS  for  1908. 

The  calorific  value  of  the  gas  in  British  thermal  units 
should  be  determined  by  following  the  explicit  and  practical 
directions,  adopted  in  1910  by  the  Joint  Committee  on  Calo- 
rimetry  for  the  Second  Public  Service  District  in  New  York, 
as  nearly  as  circumstances  will  permit.  These  regulations 
were  published  in  the  report  of  the  Joint  Committee  in  1913 
and  were  printed  in  the  PROCEEDINGS  of  the  American  Gas 
Institute  for  that  year. 

These  directions  are  based  on  the  work  of  the  Committee  on 
Calorimetry  of  the  American  Gas  Institute,  which  was  re- 
ported in  1908  and  1909  in  the  PROCEEDINGS.  These  reports, 
in  pamphlet  form,  may  be  obtained  from  the  Secretary. 

BY-PRODUCTS. 

When  we  turn  from  the  elegant  and  accurate  methods  of 
determining  the  quantity  and  quality  of  the  gas  produced,  to 
consider  the  by-products,  coke,  tar  and  ammonia,  we  find  some 
difficulty  in  obtaining  satisfactory  measurements. 

Tar  and  Ammonia. 

The  tar  and  ammonia  are  usually  collected  in  large  tanks  al- 
ready containing  these  products  so  that  reliable  measurements 
cannot  be  made  when  a  short  test  run  is  carried  out.  If 


8 


these  are  the  conditions,  the  test  should  continue  long  enough 
for  the  tar  and  ammonia  collected  to  amount  to  so  much  that 
a  slight  error  in  measurement  would  not  make  a  large  per- 
centage of  the  quantity. 

In  order  to  obtain  reliable  measurements  from  a  short  test, 
separate  tanks  of  small  size  must  be  available.  Both  of  these 
by-products  must  be  tested  chemically  in  order  to  determine 
the  actual  tar  and  ammonia. 

Coke. 

The  coke  made  and  used  as  fuel  should  be  reported  as  dry. 
When  a  test,  which  is  of  some  importance  is  being  made,  it  all 
should  be  weighed,  although  it  is  laborious  and  inconvenient 
to  do  so,  by  some  method  that  can  be  adapted  in  the  plant. 

When  the  object  is  to  check  the  production  of  coke  in  con- 
tinuous manufacture,  it  is  out  of  the  question  to  weigh  it  all, 
but  periodic  weighings  should  be  made  to  check  the  measures 
of  yield,  breeze  and  fuel. 

The  coal  carbonized  and  the  water  gas  generator  fuel  should 
be  weighed,  all  the  time,  either  as  car  loads  or  as  smaller  units. 

So  far  we  have  used  the  term  "coke"  in  a  general  sense. 
In  practice  it  seems  desirable  to  use  these  definitions.  Coke 
is  that  portion  of  the  entire  product  discharged  from  a  retort 
after  carbonization  which  will  pass  over  a  screen  having  l/2- 
inch  square  openings. 

Breeze  is  that  portion  which  will  pass  through  these  open- 
ings. 

This  distinction  is  somewhat  arbitrary,  although  it  is  quite 
widely  accepted. 

It  is  important,  for  purposes  of  comparison,  that  it  be  spec- 
ified how  the  coke  should  be  screened.  In  practice  and  com- 
mercially, different  plants  use  rotary  screens,  shaking  screens 
and  screens  inclined  at  different  angles.  These  modifications 
are  equivalent  to  openings  of  different  sizes  and  are  further 
influenced  by  the  rate  of  screening. 

Take  the  coke  immediately  on  discharging  before  it  is  sub- 
jected to  other  handling.  Enough  lots  should  be  taken  to  have 


samples  representing  actual  conditions.  In  horizontal  and  in- 
clined retorts  the  coke  from  a  vertical  tier  must  be  taken; 
from  vertical  retorts  and  ovens  also,  it  must  be  taken  from 
several,  in  order  to  include  all  conditions.  It  is  recommended 
that  the  coke  be  forked,  then  thrown  on  a  ^2 -inch  screen,  3 
feet  wide  by  6  feet  long,  inclined  at  an  angle  of  40°  from  the 
horizontal. 

Yields  of  Coke  and  Breeze. 

In  order  to  make  the  reported  yields  comparable,  it  is  de- 
sirable that  the  calculations  should  be  made  on  a  basis  of  dry 
coke  and  dry  breeze  from  dry  coal.  The  total  product  from 
the  retorts  on  which  the  determination  is  to  be  made  should 
be  screened  to  separate  the  merchantable  coke  from  the  breeze. 
After  screening,  the  weights  of  coke  and  breeze  should  be  de- 
termined. Samples  of  both  coke  and  breeze  should  be  taken 
immediately  after  the  product  has  been  weighed  and  moisture 
determinations  made  thereon.  From  the  result  of  these  mois- 
ture tests  the  total  number  of  pounds  of  the  dry  coke  and  of 
the  dry  breeze  should  be  calculated.  The  yield  of  dry  coke 
from  dry  coal  is  then  calculated  by  dividing  the  total  number 
pounds  (or  tons)  of  dry  coke  produced  by  the  total  number 
of  pounds  (or  tons)  of  dry  coal  charged  in  the  retorts  which 
were  used  in  the  tests. 

The  net  dry  coke  does  often  agree  in  percentage  with  the 
result  of  the  crucible  test  of  the  coal,  but  the  only  way  to  ob- 
tain reliable  figures  for  the  yield  is  to  weigh  that  produced  in 
the  operation. 

There  are  some  properties  of  the  coke  which  are  important 
to  be  noted.  The  chemical  composition  is  called  for  in  the 
schedule  for  reporting  the  tests.  Certain  physical  properties 
are  important  in  deciding  whether  a  coke  is  suitable  for  serv- 
ice where  the  most  exacting  requirements  of  its  quality  are 
demanded,  that  is,  in  a  blast  furnace. 

Therefore,  the  coke  may  be  subjected  to  several  kinds  of 
tests  to  determine  its  character. 

i st.  The  shatter  test  to  determine  its  relative  breakage  on 
handling. 


10 

2nd.  The  porosity  test. 

3rd.  The  specific  gravity  test. 

4th.  The  crushing  test. 

5th.  The  test  for  solubility  in  carbonic  acid  at  high  tem- 
peratures. 

Of  all  these  tests,  the  results  of  only  the  second  and  third 
can  be  expressed  absolutely. 

The  shatter  test  can  be  made  quite  satisfactorily,  both  as  to 
simplicity  and  consistency  in  the  results,  and  gives  perhaps  the 
most  information  about  its  physical  value,  since  if  it  is  rela- 
tively resistant  to  shattering,  it  must  be  quite  tough  and  dense, 
more  suitable  for  transportation  and  for  ordinary  fuel  pur- 
poses. 

The  fourth  and  fifth  tests  have  been  studied  but  have  not 
been  developed  so  that  they  are  entirely  dependable,  and  they 
are  not  advocated. 

These  tests  are  described  in  Technical  Paper  No.  50  of  'the 
Bureau  of  Mines  on  Metallurgical  Coke. 

Shatter  Test  of  Coke. 

This  description  is  taken  from  the  Technical  Paper  No.  50, 
verbatim,  except  the  modification  that  the  sample  used  should 
all  be  over  the  2-inch  screen. 

For  a  comparative  test  it  seems  as  applicable  to  the  large 
oven  cokes  with  each  other,  as  to  retort  cokes  with  each  other. 
There  is  no  common  basis  of  comparing  cokes  from  different 
sources. 

"The  apparatus  for  making  the  test  as  shown  in  Fig.  23 
consists  of  a  supported  box  capable  of  holding  100  pounds  of 
coke,  the  bottom  of  the  box  being  6  feet  above  a  cast-iron 
plate.  The  doors  on  the  bottom  are  so  hinged  and  latched  that 
they  will  swing  freely  when  opened  and  will  not  inpede  the 
fall  of  the  coke.  Boards  about  8  inches  high  are  placed  around 
the  iron  plate  so  that  no  coke  may  be  lost.  With  a  coke  fork 
a  sample  of  approximately  50  pounds  over  2-inch  size  is  placed 
in  the  box,  no  attempt  being  made  to  arrange  it  therein.  The 
entire  contents  of  the  box  is  dropped  four  times  on  the  iron 


II 


plate,  the  small  material  and  the  dust  being  returned  each 
time  with  the  large  coke.  After  the  fourth  drop  the  material 
is  screened  on  a  screen  of  2-inch  mesh ;  the  coke  that  remains 


Shatter  Test  Apparatus. 

on  the  screen  and  what  passes  through  are  weighed  and  the 
breakage  is  determined.  If  the  sum  of  the  weights  indicates  a 
loss  of  over  i  per  cent,  the  test  is  rejected  and  a  new  one 
made.'' 

Method  for  the  Determination  of  Apparent  Specific  Gravity. 

Weigh  out  8  to  10  pieces  of  representative  dry  coke,  and 

completely  immerse  in  water  in  the  special  tank  for  at  least 


12 


5  minutes.  Add  enough  water  to  fill  the  tank  exactly  to  a 
fixed  mark  near  the  top,  then  take  out  the  coke  pieces,  drain- 
ing each  into  the  tank  for  about  30  seconds.  By  means  of  a 
suitable  measuring  stick,  graduated  to  read  liters  and  tenths, 
measure  the  space  from  the  mark  down  to  the  water  level. 
This  space  is  equal  to  the  apparent  volume  of  the  coke. 

Weight  of  coke  (kilos) 

— r—  -^-p r-  =  Apparent  sp.  gr.  of  coke. 

Apparent  volume '(liters) 

Measuring  Stick  and  Special  Tank. 

The  special  tank  is  conveniently  a  cylindrical  can  with  ver- 
tical sides,  about  2  feet  high  and  i  foot  in  .diameter. 

For  measuring  thrust  the  stick  vertically  down  the  side  of 
the  tank  inside  until  the  stop  rests  on  the  top.  Zero  on  the 
stick  then  is  level  with  the  mark.  Take  out  the  stick  and  take 
reading  down  to  the  point  where  it  is  wet. 

Method  for  the  Determination  of  True  Specific  Gravity. 

Apparatus. — A  100  cubic  centimeter  measuring  flask,  whose 
weight  alone,  and  when  filled  exactly  to  the  mark  with  the 
benzol  at  the  temperature  of  tests,  is  known.  This  tempera- 
ture must  be  the  same  as  that  of  the  room  at  the  time  of  mak- 
ing- the  tests. 

Determination. — Fill  the  flask  nearly  half  full  with  benzol, 
then  add  30  grams  coke  (80  mesh  or  finer),  by  means  of  a 
glass  funnel,  in  such  a  way  that  it  will  drop  directly  into  the 
benzol,  a  little  at  a  time.  Agitate,  by  rotary  shaking,  to  elimi- 
nate all  air,'  then  fill  exactly  to  the  mark  with  benzol  and  re- 
weigh. 

Let  A  =  weight  of  flask  filled  with  benzol. 

Let  B  =  weight  of  flask  alone. 

Let  C  —  weight   of    flask   filled    with    30   grams    coke    and 

benzol. 
Then: 

<M  (A  --  B) 

-— -      =  =  True  sp.  gr.  of  coke. 


13 

Calculation  for  the  Determination  of  Porosity  or  Percentage 
of  Cellular  Space. 

True  sp.  gr.  —  app.  sp.  gr. 

r*  -  —  Cellular  space. 

True  sp.  gr. 

Method  for  the  Determination  of  Moisture. 
For  moisture  determinations  of  either  coke  or  breeze,  rep- 
resentative samples,  preferably  not  less  than  50  pounds,  should 
be  taken  and  carefully  weighed.  These  samples  should  then 
be  put  in  a  drying  closet,  which  is  kept  at  a  temperature  of 
115°  C.  The  drying  closet  should  be  provided  with  a  means 
for  insuring  continuous  ventilation.  After  8  hours  the  sample 
may  be  taken  out  and  weighed.  The  loss  of  weight  divided  by 
the  original  weight  of  the  sample  is  the  percentage  of  moisture. 

Weight  Balance. 

The  weight  balance  from  carbonization  can  be  determined 
with  much  less  difficulty  to  a  close  approximation  than  that 
from  water  gas  manufacture.  But  even  in  the  former  it  must 
be  remembered  that  there  are  inevitable  losses  of  deposited 
pitch  and  of  gas  at  the  charging  and  discharging  of  retorts. 

The  inherent  difficulties  of  measuring,  sampling  and  testing 
a  water-gas  plant  for  a  weight  balance  are  very  great,  and  it 
does  not  seem  advisable  to  recommend  it. 

To  determine  the  weight  of  gas,  take  the  specific  gravity  at 
the  same  temperature  as  the  meter.  Then  multiply  this  spe- 
cific gravity  by  the  weight  of  a  cubic  foot  of  air  saturated  at 
this  temperature,  and  by  the  metered  volume  of  gas  corrected 
for  barometric  and  meter  pressure  only. 

Codes. 

The  appended  codes  for  reporting  tests  of  carbonizing 
plants  and  water-gas-generating  apparatus  are  proposed.  The 
items  of  the  codes  are  numbered.  It  is  to  be  noted  that  those 
numbered  in  large  type  are  the  most  essential  ones,  which 
taken  together,  are  -short  codes  in  cases  where  less  detail  is 
acquired. 


14 

FORM   FOR  REPORTING  TEST  OF  A  COAL 
CARBONIZING  PLANT. 

1.  Plant  at 

2.  Duration  of  test,  to  determine 

DESCRIPTION  OF  CARBONIZING  APPARATUS. 

3.  Name  and  type  of  retort  or  oven  setting 

4.  Number  of  benches  in  use 

5.  Number  of  retorts  in  use 

6.  Dimensions  of  retort  or  chamber 

7.  Material  used  in  retorts  and  settings 

8.  Days  run  since  retorts  were  set  or  rebuilt 

9.  Condition  of  retorts 

10.  Average  time  since  scurfing 

11.  Number  and  size  of  standpipes  per  retort 

12.  Kind  of  seal  for  dippipes 

13.  Method  of  charging  retorts 

14.  Method  of  discharging  retorts 

15.  Name  and  type  of  furnace 

16.  Dimensions  of  furnace 

17.  Size  and  description  of  grate 

18.  Primary  air  heated,  temperature 

19.  Secondary  air  heated,  temperature 

20.  Method  of  clinker  prevention — Waste  gas  return,  steam,  etc. 

21.  Pounds  steam  per  pound  coke 

22.  Nature  of  air  regulation 
2;].  Kind  of  draught 

24.  Horse-power  of  fans,  if  used 

25.  Are  waste  heat  boilers  used 

26.  Heating  surface,  square  feet 

27.  Method  of  draught  for  boilers 

DESCRIPTION  OF  MATERIALS. 
GAS  COAL  : 

28.  Kind  of  coal  and  source 

29.  Condition :     Weathered,  fresh,  lumpy,  fine,  wet,  dry 

30.  Approximate  Analysis:  Per  cent.         Pounds  in  coal  used 
Moisture  , 

Volatile  combustible 
Fixed  carbon 
Ash 


Total 


31.  SULPHUR: 

32.  Ultimate  Analysis : 
Hydrogen 
Carbon 

Oxygen 
Nitrogen 
Sulphur 
Ash 

Total 

33.  B.  t.  u.  per  pound 

PRODUCERS : 

34.  Kind  and  size  of  fuel 

35.  Moisture 

36.  Volatile  combustibles 

37.  Fixed  carbon 

38.  Ash 

39.  Sulphur 

40.  B.  t.  u.  per  poured 

41.  Analysis  of  ash 

42.  Fusing  point  of  ash 

43.  Nature  of  ash  and  clinker 

44.  Fuel  gas,  kind  and  source 

45.  Fuel  gas,  B.  t.  u.  per  cubic  foot 

46.  Approximate  Analysis  of  Coke  Produced: 

Moisture  Per  cent. 

Volatile  combustibles 
Fixed  carbon 
Ash 

47.  Sulphur 

48.  B.  t.  u.  per  pound 

49.  Analysis  of  ash 

50.  Fusing  point  of  ash 

51.  Breeze  through  ^-inch  square  openings,  per  cent. 

52.  Apparent  specific  gravity 

53.  True  specific  gravity 

54.  Shatter  tests 

OPERATION. 

55.  Average  duration  of  charge 

56.  Time  in  retort  in  continuous  system 

57.  Average  weight  of  charge 

58.  How  is  this  weight  determined 


.  i6 


59.  Coal  carbonized  per  retort  per  day 

60.  Coal  carbonized  per  lineal  foo't  per  day 

61.  Method  of  weighing  total  coal 

62.  Method  of  weighing  total  coke 

63.  How  is  coke  handled 

64.  Per  cent,  of  retort  hours  lost  for  scurfing  repairs 

65.  Fuel  gas  used  per  100  pounds  coal 

66.  Fuel  used  in  furnace  per  100  pounds  coal 

67.  B.  t.  u.  in  fuel  per  100  pounds  coal 

68.  Fuel  burned  per  square  foot  grate 

69.  Size  of  fuel  used 

70.  How  is  fuel  weighed 

71.  Depth  of  fuel  in  producer 

72.  Producer  charging  intervals 

73.  Clinkering  intervals 

74.  Time  for  clinkering 

75.  Method  of  clinkering  " 

76.  Cleaning  intervals  for  outlet  pipes 

77.  Per  cent,  ash  discarded 

78.  Combustible  per  TOO  pounds  coal 

79.  Average  temperature  outside  air 

80.  Average  temperature  preheated  air,  outlet  regenerator 

81.  Average  temperature  combustion  chamber  or  oven  flues 

82.  Average  temperature  retort  chamber 

83.  Average  temperature  retorts 

84.  Average  temperature  vertical  retorts      Top      Middle      Bottom 

85.  Average  temperature  inlet  recuperator,  waste  gas 

86.  Average  temperature  outlet  recuperator,  waste  gas 

87.  Average  temperature  inlet  waste  heat  boiler 

88.  Average  temperature  outlet  waste  heat  boiler 

89.  Average  temperature  standpipes 

90.  Average  temperature  foul  mains       Rich  main       Fuel  gas  main 

91.  How  often  is  primary  inspected  and  adjusted 

92.  How  often  is  secondary  inspected  and  adjusted 

93.  Air  used  per  cubic  foot  fuel  gas 

04.  Cubic  feet  primary  mixture  per  pound  fuel 

95.  Per  cent.  CO-,  in  primary  mixture 

96.  Cubic  feet  secondary  air  per  pound  fuel 

97.  Per  cent.  CO2  in  waste  gas 

98.  How  is  the  air  measured 

99.  Pressure  under  grate 

100.  Pressure  combustion  chamber 

101.  Pressure  outlet  recuperation 


102.  Analysis 

Inlet  regenerator        Outlet  regenerator 

CO. 

02 

CO 

103.  Leakage  per  cent. 

104.  Average  pressure  at  retort  outlet 

105.  Average  pressure  in  foul  mains 

106.  Average  pressure  at  meter  inlet 

107.  Average  pressure  of  barometer 

108.  Average  temperature  at  meter  inlet 

MANUFACTURING  RESULTS. 
(Computed  from  Dry  Coal.) 

109.  Gas  made  by  meter  cubic  feet 
no.  Type  of  meter 

in.  Volume  correction  factor 

112.  Gas  made  corrected  to  60°  30  inches  barometer 

and  zero  pressure  at  the  meter  inlet  cubic  feet 

113.  Coal  carbonized,  as  charged  pounds 

114.  Coal  carbonized,  dry  pounds 

115.  Lump  coke  made,  dry  pounds 

116.  Breeze  made,  dry  pounds 

117.  Total  coke  made,  dry  pounds 

118.  Total  coke  made,  dry  per  cent. 

119.  Gas  per  pound  of  coal  cubic  feet 

1 20.  Gas  per  retort  per  day 

121.  Average  candle-power  with  burner 

122.  Average  candle-power  with  Metropolitan  No.  2 

123.  Candle-feet  per  pound  with  burner 

124.  Candle-feet  per  pound  with  Metropolitan  No.  2 

125.  Gas  for  test  taken  from 

126.  Frequency  of  tests 

127.  Standard  used 

128.  Oil  dew  point  of  gas  as  tested 

129.  Water  dew  point  of  gas  as  tested 

130.  Specific  gravity  of  gas 

131.  Average  B.  t.  u.  in  gas 

132.  Thermal  feet  per  pound 

133.  Analysis  of  Gas: 

CO.        111.        02        CO        H2        CH4        N2 
Illuminating 
Fuel 


i8 


134.  H2S  in  gas  at  foill  main 

135.  H2S  in  gas  at  inlet  purifiers 

136.  Cyanogen  in  gas  at  foul  main 

137.  Naphthalene  in  gas  at  outlet  purifiers 

138.  Fixed  sulphur  in  gas  at  outlet  purifiers 

139.  Total  ammonia  recovered 

140.  Ammonia  made  per  ton  coal 

141.  Total  tar  made,  dry 

142.  Tar  made  per  ton  coal,  dry 

143.  Free  carbon  in  tar 

144.  Naphthalene  in  tar 


grains  in  100  cu.  ft. 

grains  in  100  cu.  ft. 

grains  in  100  cu.  ft. 

grains  in  100  cu.  ft. 

grains  in  100  cu.  ft. 

pounds 

pounds 

gallons 

gallons 

per  cent. 

per  cent. 


145.  Distillation  of  tar,  degrees  Centigrade: 

Moisture  to  110°  per  cent.  to  270° 
to  170°  per  cent.  to  300° 
to  235°  per  cent.  Residue 

146.  Water  evaporated  in  waste  heat  boiler 

147.  Water  evaporated  from  and  at  212° 

148.  Water  evaporated  per  net  ton  carbonized,  from 

and  at  212° 


per  cent, 
per  cent, 
per  cent. 

pounds 
pounds 


pounds 


149.  Boiler  horse-power  developed 

150.  Average  steam  pressure  of  waste  heat  boiler 

151.  WEIGHT  BALANCE: 

Products. 
Water : 
Aqueous   drips 


/  Ton  Coal. 
Moisture 

Vol.  comb.  f/c 

Fixed  carbon  % 

Ash  % 


Ibs. 
Ibs. 
Ibs. 
Ibs. 


Accounted  for 


2,000  Ibs. 
Ibs. 


Absorbed  in  purifiers 
in  tar 


Gas,  cu.  ft.  X  sp.  gr.  X 
Wet  air 
Tar,  dry 
Coke,  dry 


ibs. 
Ibs. 
Ibs. 


Ibs. 
Ibs. 
Ibs. 


Total  Ibs. 

Less  extraneous  air        ibs. 


Accounted  for 


ibs. 


19 

FORM   FOR  REPORTING  TEST   OF  WATER  GAS 
GENERATORS. 

CARBURETED  WATER  GAS  GENERATING  SETS 

1.  Plant  at 

2.  Duration  of  test 

3.  To  determine 

DESCRIPTION  OF  GENERATING  APPARATUS. 

4.  Name  of  set 

5.  Outside  diameter  of  generator        carbureter        superheater 

6.  Inside  diameter  of  generator          carbureter        superheater 

7.  Lining,  thickness  of  brick  and  asbestos 

8.  Grate  area  Average  depth  of  fuel  carried 

9.  Length  of  fixing  brick  columns       carbureter        superheater 

10.  Number  of  fixing  Urick 

11.  Kind  of  brick 

12.  Spacing  of  brick 

13.  Number  of  cleaning  doors  on  generator 

14.  Size  of  cleaning  doors  on  generator 

15.  Kind  of  grate,  fixed  or  shaking,  per  cent,  of  air  space 

16.  Number  hours  run  since  recheckering  carbureter 

17.  Distance  from  oil  spray  to  checker  bricks 

18.  Kind  of  oil  spray 

DESCRIPTION  OE  MATERIALS. 

A.  Fuel : 

ig.  Kind  Method  of  weighing 

20.  Size  Used  hot  or  cold 

21.  How   sampled 

22.  Approximate  analysis  :  Moisture 
Volatile  combustible                            Fixed  carbon 

23.  Ash         Sulphur 

24.  B.  t.  u.  per  pound 

25.  Analysis  of  ash 

26.  Fusing  point  of  ash 

B.  27.  Enriching  oil:  Shipper 

28.  Field  Specific  gravity 

29.  Analysis,  per  cent,  to  degrees  Fahrenheit: 

300°        400°         500°         600°         700°     over  700° 

C.  30.  Steam:  Live  or  exhaust  How  measured 

31.  Saturated  .  Superheated  to 

32.  Pressure  at  regulating  valve 


20 


D.     33.  Air:  Type  of  blower  used/ 

34.  Revolutions  and  capacity 

35.  Size  generator  blast  connection 

36.  Size  carbureter  blast  connection 

37.  Type  of  meter  used 

OPERATION. 
Make : 

38.  Gas  made  by  meter 

39.  Type  of  meter  when  tested  . 
•    40.  Average  temperature  at  meter  inlet 

41.  Average  pressure  at  meter  inlet 

42.  Average  barometric  pressure 

43.  Volume  correction  factor 

44.  Total  gas  made  corrected  to  60°  30  inches  barometer 

and  zero  pressure  at  meter  inlet 

45.  Gas  made  per  run 

46.  Gas  made  per  hour 

47.  Gas  made  per  hour  deducting  cleaning  time 

48.  Gas  made  per  set  per  day 

49.  Gas  made  per  set  per  day  per  square  foot  grate  area 

Fuel: 

50.  Total  fuel  used  as  fired 

51.  Fuel  per  M  as  fired 

52.  Fuel  per  M  dry 

53.  Fixed  carbon  per  M  from  analysis 

54.  Ash  and  clinker  removed  during  cleans,  and  discarded  to  dump 

55.  Dry  ash,  etc. 

56.  Theoretical  ash  per  M  from  analysis 

57.  Combustible  per  M 

Oil  Results: 

58.  Oil  used  by  meter 

59.  Oil  used  by  tank 

60.  Oil  used  by  tank  corrected  to  temperature  of  60° 

61.  Oil  per  M,  corrected 

Gas  Tests: 

62.  Candle-power  of  gas  with  burner 

63.  Candle-power  of  gas  with  Metropolitan  No.  2  burner 

64.  Candles  per  gallon  with  burner 

65.  Candles  per  gallon  with  Metropolitan  No.  2  burner 

66.  Gas  for  test  taken  from 

67.  Frequency  of  tests 

68.  Standard  used 


21 


69.  Oil  dew  point  of  gas  as  tested 

70.  Water  dew  point  of  gas  as  tested 

71.  Calorific  value  of  gas  at 

72.  Frequency  of  tests 

73.  Kind  of  calorimeter  used 

74.  B.  t.  u.  per^gallon  of  oil 

75.  Specific  gravity  of  gas 

76.  Per  cent.  CO2  in  finished  gas 

77.  How  frequently  determined 

Blozv  and  Run : 

78.  Length  of  blow  after  clean 

79.  Nominal  length  of  blow 

80.  Average  actual  length  of  blow- 
Si.  Length  of  purge  with  blast 

82.  Generator  air  per  minute 

83.  Average  carbureter  air  per  minute 

84.  Generator  air  per  M 

85.  Carbureter  air  per  M 

86.  Total  air  per  M 

87.  Average  blast  pressure  under  grate 

88.  Nominal  length  of  run 

89.  Actual  length  of  run 

90.  Coaling  periods 

91.  Cleaning  periods 

92.  Total  time  for  cleanings 

93.  Method  of  splitting  runs 

94.  Pounds  of  steam  per  M 

Temperatures : 

95.  Carbureter  base 

96.  Superheater  base 

97.  Superheater  top 

98.  Outlet  wash-box 

99.  Outlet  exhauster 

100.  Inlet  condenser 

101.  Outlet  condenser 

102.  Inlet  tar  extractor 

103.  Inlet  purifier 

104.  Outlet  purifier 

105.  Outlet  station  meter 

106.  Atmosphere 

107.  Air  at  blast  meter 

108.  Oil  in  tank 

109.  Oil  entering  set 


22 


no.  Analyses  of  blast  and  illuminating  gases: 

Illuminating  Blast 

CO2 
•     02 

Illuminants 

CO 

CH4 

H2 

Ni 
in.  Water  gas  tar  made 

112.  Distillation  of  tar,  degrees  Centigrade: 

Moisture  to  110°  per  cent.  to  270°  per  cent, 
to  170°  per  cent.  to  300°  per  cent, 
to  235°  per  cent.  Residue  per  cent. 

113.  Water  gas  tar,  specific  gravity 

114.  W^ater  gas  tar  dry,  per  cent,  by  weight  of  oil  used 

DR.  J.  F.  WING,  Chairman, 

R.  N.  DAVIS, 

O.  B.. EVANS, 

J.  H.  TAUSSIG, 

V.  VON  STARZKNSKI. 


432051 


UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA  LIBRARY 


